I just received the results of my DNA testing and to tell the truth I'm very confused as I'm sure anyone new to this is.

I'm told I have 64 matches, to my 12 marker test, yet non of them are a match to my surname of "Burns". I was hoping that by submitting for a DNA test I would be able to find anyone that is connected to me. But now I'm told that these 64 matches are only connected to me somewhere within the past 1000 years. Not very rewarding.

Almost feel like I was ripped off for $150. This isn't exactly what I anticipated.

Now it is suggested that I retest for 37 markers in order to get a better match. As I am not educated in the world of DNA testing, it's almost like a bait and switch operation.

Would someone please educate me or tell me to get lost. I'm not a wealthy person and can't afford tests after tests.

I'm new to DNA testing too. I'm sure that 37 markers beat 12, but my opinion at this time is that results will be more conclusive in the future when more people have tested. Also, the price seems to be coming down, so you may just want to wait a while.

I don't fully understand either, but I imagine that 12 markers are a very broad brush and, over time, the ancestor who provided them will have very many descendants of all sorts of names to share those markers. Simple statistics suggest that "Byrnes" will be in a minority. As you increase to more markers e.g. 67, the same statistical process will ensure that an ever-increasing proportion of matches will be closer to you, and therefore - assuming that everything in every line was above board - there will be more Byrnes listed (of whatever spelling). Even those with differing names will be technically and factually as close. So, sadly, one must continue to upgrade to additional markers as they become available. For slightly more fun, one can join the Family Finder scheme, which finds close matches on all lines, not just strictly paternal. Of course, when one cannot discover the connection to a 3rd or 4th cousin, it does underline the fact that earlier generations had many more children that we always know about, and possibly rather more partners too.

I got the Family Tree DNA Y37. It's producing some good results, very quickly.You still have to do a LOT of record research to make valid connections though.I have found sure kin where I never expected it.And I just found that a long ago Arkansas friend (we both suspected we were far kin), is no kin to me at all, but she is related to #62909,27133,and 62655 on Result Page.Even have one person with a different Surname, trying to figure why their DNA matches my Burns DNA. Haven't figured that one out yet. (;

I agree, these test results are a bit confusing. 25 markers are in and it looks like i have some resonable matches if you go back 28 generations? How many years wouild that be? Anyway the rest of the 37 markers are yet to be posted.fingers crossed